Free Dining Watch 2009 - Dates Released!! Update post 1

[bdiddy]

Does anyone know when the cut-off date is for booking? Isn't it usually in June? I booked right away last year so I can't remember.

We have a weird situation this year. My husband works for a company that is supposed to strike sometime after April 1st. He won't be striking but will have to work a strike assignment so he isn't allowed any vacation until it is over. I'm praying they walk right away and it is over quickly. Last time they did this it was right away and it only lasted 3 days.


The situation is obviously making it impossible to plan anything at this point. We did free dining last year and I would love to go back but have to wait until this whole thing is over to even book and I might as well forget about getting decent ADR's if we book late!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I hope this is not too off topic.
I am an AP holder. I have decided to stay at a value resort for this trip, I read somewhere (maybe Mousesavers) that if you were staying at a Value that the Free Dining was a better deal than the AP room only rate. I can only travel in August due to my coaching schedule, so I have just been crossing my fingers waiting to see if FD would be offered this year.
Now for the big question. I know that we can save our one day MYW ticket and use it for an AP renewal or future trip...but can we use it to upgrade from an AP to a PAP - it being August and the Values not having pool slides, I have decided that we will definitely do the water parks.

Yes, I think FD is probably better than an AP rate, especially at the Value resorts, you just have to wait and compare is all I can say. We had an offer of free dining in Dec, but because of the date we were staying and the resort we choose, FD was not the best option, AP rate were.

I believe you can use that one day ticket to upgrade to AP or PAP either one, but don't go by my word alone. There is a sticky by Cheshire Figment with all the ticket info you could ever want at the top of the Theme Park board.

Suzanne

 

[kstategrad]

We're going at the beginning of November. Historically, do any of you know if FD has been offered in November before?

Also, our trip is already paid off, so if FD is offered for our vacation dates, do we get a price adjustment or something?

Sorry if these are stupid questions...this is my first time using the DDP.

 

[Cupmom]

Touringplans.com posted this info

This is what is posted on the Touringplans website
RECENT NEWS Last updated 25 Mar 2009

Free dining to return late summer 2009
Our sources say that Disney will announce late summer free dining packages for Disney Visa cardholders on March 26, and to the general public on March 30. Travel dates are not yet set, but should be late August through late September. (Disney's current Buy-4-Get-7 deal ends August 15, so expect free dining to start a week or two after that.)
Posted 2009-03-25

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We're going at the beginning of November. Historically, do any of you know if FD has been offered in November before?

Also, our trip is already paid off, so if FD is offered for our vacation dates, do we get a price adjustment or something?

Sorry if these are stupid questions...this is my first time using the DDP.

Last September Disney Destinations sent out some emails that offered free dining pin codes for select dates in October, November and December. These emails were random, not for the general public, and the codes were non-transferrable. About two weeks after that Disney Visa sent out a free dining code for their card holders for the same select dates in October, November and December. Those pin codes were not part of the regular Fall Dining promotion and there was no general public fd code offered for any of those dates.

You can apply a code at any time to your reservation. If it is already paid in full, they will send you a refund on the difference.

 

[HLAuburn]

Quick question for you experts here
If I book my trip for September 24 for 10 days, so until October 4 can I still get those last 4 days (October) with free dining?

Yes....in the past, FD dates have been check in dates.

 

[Kimmy2Disney]

How did you get a pin code private offer? Are you on a list on some sort or registered somewhere? I've seen similar posts saying they'd received other kinds of offers and unless its restricted from Canadians, I'd like to get them too.

No clue how we got a pin code... I've been to walt disney world on property no less than 20 times, and have been the past 3 years during free dining and never before received any sort of offer, even though I'm registered just about everywhere there is to register (maybe I had gotten one somewhere along the line because I recently discovered that my disney destinations emails were going to my spam... so make sure you check your spam frequently...) It actually came to my house in my moms name (which we havent booked a package in her name in at least 4 years.
Moral of my story is that I think they are so completely random... no matter what offer you get always call to see if there is more to it.. because like i said mine said 40% off of a value resort stay and ended up being 40% off at mod or dlx too!

 

[Miniefan]

What time does the CRO open for reservations? I live in Central Time Zone.

Kim

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

What time does the CRO open for reservations? I live in Central Time Zone.

Kim

They are open 7am to 10pm EST, so 6am to 9pm CST

Suzanne

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Touringplans.com posted this info

This is what is posted on the Touringplans website
RECENT NEWS Last updated 25 Mar 2009

Free dining to return late summer 2009
Our sources say that Disney will announce late summer free dining packages for Disney Visa cardholders on March 26, and to the general public on March 30. Travel dates are not yet set, but should be late August through late September. (Disney's current Buy-4-Get-7 deal ends August 15, so expect free dining to start a week or two after that.)
Posted 2009-03-25

 

[DisneyMom5]

how quickly are we talking? i finish work at 5pm UK time, thats midday EST. will i have a problem waiting until i get home and then booking it? i'm aiming for POP but i'll take any of values really, i'm not that bothered about which hotel i'll get.
will i have a problem getting a room as long as i book on the first day it becomes available to the general public?

If you are not picky about which resort, you should be absolutely fine!

We originally booked a bounceback for 8/23-9/2 at the Poly so we have free dining already with the purchase of an 8 day MYW ticket package. When we found out our school schedule we had to move up our departure date to 8/31 but then added 8/21 and 8/22 at the Beach Club with a AAA discount with no tickets and were just going to swim at Stormalong Bay and do typhoon lagoon (pay for a one day ticket for that) those 2 days. Now with this rumor I want to know....can I kept the split stay and make it 9 day tickets and get the free dining for the whole trip? Should I just add days to my Poly reservation instead? I would love to get the free dining for the whole trip.
Hope this made sense....

Thanks,

If you do two hotels, you will have to have at least 3 nights at each (if it's like prior years) and at least a one day ticket for each ressie.

If you change it all to the Poly, then yes, you can have the 9/10 (whichever it is) nights free dining.

I hope this is not too off topic.
I am an AP holder. I have decided to stay at a value resort for this trip, I read somewhere (maybe Mousesavers) that if you were staying at a Value that the Free Dining was a better deal than the AP room only rate. I can only travel in August due to my coaching schedule, so I have just been crossing my fingers waiting to see if FD would be offered this year.
Now for the big question. I know that we can save our one day MYW ticket and use it for an AP renewal or future trip...but can we use it to upgrade from an AP to a PAP - it being August and the Values not having pool slides, I have decided that we will definitely do the water parks.

A brand new PAP, yes, but I don't think (correct me if anyone has done this) you can apply the value of the one day to an already existing ticket to upgrade it.
I know in the past they have not let you apply more than one 1-day ticket to the cost of ONE ticket or AP.

There is also new FD rumor news posted on Touringplans. It doesn't state the travel dates, but says that it will be available for booking to Disney Visa holders on March 26 and to the general public on March 30.

That...is sexy.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I'm so excited, too!! So here is a question, have had my vacation booked through AAA for a couple of months now, put my TA there on alert for this but she probably doens't come to work until 9! And the phone lines are up at 7 a.m......should I call and book another package through Disney??? Or just wait? This is the first time I haven't had complete control of my trip and now I'm starting to panic!! Help!!!

Talk to your TA. Mine doesn't start work till 1:30 but assured me she would be up and calling the day the offer starts. Remember they don't have to go to an office to do this so she may already be prepared for that.

My TA from AAA is taking my ressie # and Disney's phone # and calling at 7:00am for me. I already called today and spoke to her. She is saying that they think the announcement will come in a day or two and that she knew I was going to call her today about this. She is usually off on Tuesdays which is Mar. 30th so she will call bright and early on Wed. April 1 for me. I am so excited about this. My trip is booked for 8/16 thru 8/23 for DDs birthday and I am so hoping that she can switch my ressie to FD for those dates.

 

[TillyMarigold]

She is usually off on Tuesdays which is Mar. 30th so she will call bright and early on Wed. April 1 for me. I am so excited about this. My trip is booked for 8/16 thru 8/23 for DDs birthday and I am so hoping that she can switch my ressie to FD for those dates.

March 30 is a Monday, March 31 is Tuesday. So she could do it on Monday if she works then?

 

[3goofyboys]

My TA from AAA is taking my ressie # and Disney's phone # and calling at 7:00am for me. I already called today and spoke to her. She is saying that they think the announcement will come in a day or two and that she knew I was going to call her today about this. She is usually off on Tuesdays which is Mar. 30th so she will call bright and early on Wed. April 1 for me. I am so excited about this. My trip is booked for 8/16 thru 8/23 for DDs birthday and I am so hoping that she can switch my ressie to FD for those dates.

I think March 30th is a Monday, at least that's how it appears on my calendar !


Quick question... when Wilderness Lodge sold out within a couple of days, does anyone know if it was a couple days of DV opening or of the general public opening? We're booked at WL right now and I would really prefer not to change resorts.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I think March 30th is a Monday, at least that's how it appears on my calendar !


Quick question... when Wilderness Lodge sold out within a couple of days, does anyone know if it was a couple days of DV opening or of the general public opening? We're booked at WL right now and I would really prefer not to change resorts.

I know it was booked up by the time the general public offer came out in 2007. And it seems like it booked up pretty fast in 2008 too.

 

[disinsept]

I currently have 5 nights booked in september at POP through a travel agent, do i just need to call my travel agent on the 30th and tell them to add the free dining? Also which dining plan will be the free one?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I currently have 5 nights booked in september at POP through a travel agent, do i just need to call my travel agent on the 30th and tell them to add the free dining? Also which dining plan will be the free one?

Yes, your travel agent will have to add the code. The basic dining plan is what has always been offered with the Free Dining Promo: 1TS, 1CS and 1 Snack per person per night.

 

[VickynMickey]

At least there is light at the end of the tunnel

Well from what the rumor is saying our dates of Sept. 24th thru 30th are covered, keeping fingers crossed for official dates.

I know what I will be doing Monday at 6 am sitting on hold for 2 hours but its worth it.

 

[Schultz]

YEA!!! Now our BF's can go too!!!

 

[mom2two2]

Please start Aug 16......please start Aug 16.....please Disney, have pity on me and start FD Aug 16....